We have to start by boosting voter turnout in local and statewide elections among all Southerns that want to build a clean, just energy future. Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia all rank in the top 10 for the lowest voter turnouts in the U.S. But here’s the good news: we have nowhere to go but up, and today is the perfect time to start making changes and educating others on how to register to vote. It’s #NationalVoterRegistrationDay, the largest one-day effort of the year to register voters and ensure that nobody misses the opportunity to vote due to a registration problem.

SACE is disappointed with the lack of leadership from our elected officials to take responsibility for our own climate pollution and seize all the opportunities presented by affordable, renewable energy. It’s time to recruit clean energy voters across the South and we need your help.

Here are 5 actions you can do today to participate in #NationalVoterRegistrationDay:

3. Still have questions or need to assist a family member or a friend? Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) today and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law-led Election Protection hotline will be taking calls LIVE to answer questions about voter registration.

4. If you’re already a super voter and want to help put in the work to register voters, then consider volunteering today. There are events happening in every state across the South that you can be a part of. Check it out here.

5. When #NationalVoterRegistrationDay concludes today, we don’t want these efforts to end. Here at SACE, we are recruiting volunteers to write letters to the editors, attend local events, and make phone calls for our campaigns. Take a few minutes and sign up to get involved here!

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/26/nationalvoterregistrationday-recruiting-clean-energy-voters-across-the-south/feed/0Are you ready to take the NextCar Pledge?http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/25/nextcar-pledge/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/25/nextcar-pledge/#commentsMon, 25 Sep 2017 13:35:52 +0000Dory Larsenhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76710Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicle (collectively referred to here as EVs) sales in the United States are rocking in 2017 and have had a 32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past four years. Despite these gains, only 159,000 of the 17.47 MILLION new vehicles sold in the US in 2016 were EVs. This means there is a huge opportunity for growth of EVs.

The idea is simple. By taking the pledge, you are making a commitment to make your next car an EV and joining a movement toward cleaner technology that will reduce emissions, save money, and create a cleaner planet. You will benefit from joining the Electrify The South network of resources where you can learn about electric vehicle options, learn more about charging, EV events, and how to effectively engage in EV positive policy.

Additionally, by taking the pledge you will help educate your family and friends about the benefits of EVs as well.

The NextCar Pledge demonstrates to carmakers and decision makers that there is a growing body of drivers and supporters of EVs that are committed to an electric vehicle revolution. By joining, it is not signing onto a specific policy but it is a reminder that policy directly affects how quickly the transition to electric vehicles will occur.

EV Ambassador

In addition to taking the NextCar Pledge, there is an opportunity to become an amplifier of the message. In becoming an EV Ambassador, you agree to help spread the message through your social media and encourage others to learn more and sign the pledge too. Together, this synergy can really change the game and lead to an EV revolution! Please join us in this effort – take the NextCarPledge!

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/25/nextcar-pledge/feed/0Florida Utility Gulf Power & Department of Defense Go Solar with Coronalhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/20/florida-utility-gulf-power-department-of-defense-go-solar-with-coronal/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/20/florida-utility-gulf-power-department-of-defense-go-solar-with-coronal/#commentsWed, 20 Sep 2017 13:06:22 +0000Alissa Jean Schaferhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76989Tucked in the far northwest corner of the Florida panhandle, many people forget about the Navy and Air Force bases located there, out of sight, out of mind. These somewhat remote locations were in the headlines just last month though, and for a great reason: Three large solar installations had just been completed. A total of 120 MW, it is the largest combined portfolio of solar facilities on Department of Defense property to date.

This video was produced by Coronal about the Gulf Power solar projects.

The project was accomplished via a deal between the local utility, Gulf Power, solar developer Coronal Energy, and the Department of Defense in what Gulf Power Chairman, President, and CEO called an “innovative public-private partnership”. Here’s how it works: The land the solar panels are on is owned by the military. Gulf Power is currently leasing the land, and then sub leasing to Coronal Energy. Coronal built the built the solar farms in partnership with the Department of Defense, who receives lease payments, and is now selling all the power the solar farms are generating back to Gulf Power.

In a statement released by Coronal Energy, chairman and CEO of Coronal Energy applauded the leadership and partnership between Gulf Power and the Department of Defense: “Considering the scale of the Gulf Coast Solar Center portfolio, collaboration between our team and the like-minded teams at the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Gulf Power has been an essential element of our success in developing these projects,” said Jonathan Jaffrey, chairman and CEO of Coronal Energy™. “The result is a landmark energy project that represents what is possible when our nation’s military and its leading energy companies like Gulf Power commit to renewables. We are honored to take our place alongside these partners for this historic project.”

As solar development always does, these installations provided local jobs during the construction process as well. According to Coronal Energy, nearly 450 local laborers have been employed on the project since November of 2016. Solar Ready Vets participated in the project as well, a program that helps train troops for careers in the solar field as they transition out of military service.

Here are the details on the project, as released by Gulf Power:

Eglin Air Force Base

Largest Air Force solar project worldwide in terms of megawatts

About 375,000 photovoltaic panels

Capable of generating 30 MW, enough to power about 4,500 Okaloosa County homes in a snapshot

Spans about 226 acres, the equivalent of 171 football fields

Pensacola NAS Saufley Field

Largest of the three sites

About 600,000 panels

Capable of generating 50 MW, enough to power about 7,400 Escambia County homes in a snapshot

Spans about 438 acres, the equivalent of 331 football fields

Holley Field

About 475,000 photovoltaic panels

Capable of generating 40 MW, enough to power about 6,100 Santa Rosa County homes in a snapshot

Spans about 330 acres, the equivalent of 250 football fields

In the big picture of utility scale solar in Florida, the completion of this project, which began in 2016, certainly puts Gulf Power in a leadership role as a power company that has followed through on promises to increase renewable energy generation. In the last several months, other investor owned utilities have made announcements of even higher numbers of megawatts, Florida Power & Light stating that they are on track to install 600 MW by the end of 2018 with even more in the pipeline by 2023, and Duke Energy Florida announcing plans to add 700 MW of solar in the next few years just this week. We remain hopeful that these projects will come to fruition, and that even more will be announced. The completion of Coronal Energy’s project was a historic day, but wouldn’t it be great if completing a solar project were just normal, everyday news?

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/20/florida-utility-gulf-power-department-of-defense-go-solar-with-coronal/feed/0Longer Range EVs are Here NOWhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/18/longer-range-evs-are-here-now-2/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/18/longer-range-evs-are-here-now-2/#commentsMon, 18 Sep 2017 17:21:59 +0000Dory Larsenhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76904When we think about electric vehicles (EVs) – range is an overarching theme. How far can they really go? According to the United States Department of Transportation, the average American travels just 36 miles per day. Although many of us have no idea how much we actually travel and aren’t in the habit of researching transportation statistics, the mere thought of only being able to go 100 miles in an electric car makes them unappealing to the masses.

2018 Nissan LEAF Photo Credit: David Massey

“Range anxiety” is the term that describes the fear drivers experience of not knowing if they have enough charge to get through their day. That fear of the unknown is cited as the biggest hesitation when considering the purchase of an EV even though a recent MIT study demonstrated that current, affordable EVs are able to replace 87% of personal transportation needs on a given day.

Automakers are beginning to respond and understand that for the electric revolution (and their business to adapt and grow) they need to offer products that meet consumers’ real and perceived needs. They’ve heard the call and several exciting second generation EVs are rolling off factory floors. Here are a few of the newer EV options offering longer ranges:

2018 Nissan LEAF

The redesigned 2018 model year Nissan LEAF (just released on September 5) and its 40 kilowatt hour battery is projected to get 150 miles of range. The starting price is $31K which gets it to $23.5K once the federal tax credit is applied. It also offers safety features usually associated with luxury cars like one pedal driving, ProPILOT Assist (which will keep you at a preset distance from the car in front of you among other things), and automatic emergency braking. Additionally, Nissan will be offering a 60 kWh battery model option that is expected to have 200 miles or more of range that will be released in 2019.

Chevy Bolt

Named Motor Trend’s 2017 Car of the Year, the Chevy Bolt is roomy, safe, and one of the most inexpensive EVs. Right now you can purchase a Chevy Bolt with 238 miles of range for $38K before the $7,500 federal tax credit making it a value choice. It also features one pedal driving and goes from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. (Not your average soccer mom ride).

BMW i3
The BMW i3 is one of the only electric cars built electric from the ground up. It features a carbon fiber body making it the lightest EV on the market, and has a range of 114 miles on a full charge. It seats 4 passengers and with a price tag of $42K (without the federal tax credit) it falls between the higher end Teslas and Chevy Bolt and Leaf. Recently, BMW has committed to making electric cars a core of its business model. By 2025 they will offer 25 electrified vehicles 12 of which are 100%.

Tesla S, Tesla X, and Tesla Model 3

Tesla gets the gold star for paving the way for electric vehicles. Both the Tesla S and X achieve 250+ mile ranges, and with a “Long Range Battery” package option they can travel 335 and 295 miles, respectively. So when Tesla rolled out the Model 3 at a base price of $35K, it really changed the game. It has a range of 220 miles and is also offered with Long Range package which brings it to 310 miles of range. The Model 3 is Tesla’s first mass market car and with 1,800 new pre orders a day, we’ll be seeing a lot more of them on the roads. Familiarity will help to normalize and reduce the anxiety of the technology.

Here’s a snapshot of these models:

More Long Range EVs Are Coming

Other manufacturers are also getting on the long-range bandwagon. Hyundai has announced that it’s working on a 310-mile electric sedan under its high-end Genesis brand due after 2021. Ford has said it will spend $4.5 billion over the next five years to launch 13 electrified models including an all electric SUV. Honda, in a major shift, is set to launch two electric vehicles by 2018 and aims to have two-thirds of its vehicles electrified by 2030. Volvo, has committed all models launched from 2019 onward will be electrified in some manner. Jaguar Land Rover announced all of their models will be electrified in some fashion after 2020. Additionally, VW just promised to spend up to $84 billion in order to bring 300 electric vehicle models to market by 2030.

Let’s Move it Along

In addition to all the exciting new EVs that are in the works, it’s worth noting there are several other EVs available now but not available in markets outside of California or other states that have adopted Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) goals. So, while there are far more options globally and across the country, lack of policy and education is keeping them from being available nationwide. It’s important as stakeholders that we create an avenue for our voices to be heard in order to reach the masses and have an impact. Business leaders and policy makers need to hear from us collectively that that we want EVs that will reduce emissions, save money, and create a cleaner, healthier planet for all. Together, we can demonstrate that range anxiety is a relic and the time for EVs is NOW. To get involved and demonstrate your commitment and interest in EVs, we invite you to join the movement and take the NextCar Pledge, an exciting movement of enthusiasts who are making a promise to choose to make their next car an Electric Vehicle or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (EV).

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/18/longer-range-evs-are-here-now-2/feed/2Now is Exactly the Time to have that Discussion about Climate Changehttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/now-is-exactly-the-time-to-have-that-discussion-about-climate-change/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/now-is-exactly-the-time-to-have-that-discussion-about-climate-change/#commentsFri, 15 Sep 2017 19:16:34 +0000Susan Glickmanhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76846This column appeared in the September 15th edition of the Tampa Bay Times here.

As a native Floridian, I chose to ride out Hurricane Irma in my hometown of Tampa – just a few miles north of where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play football. Like millions of other Floridians who evacuated low-lying, beach communities for higher ground, I had the obvious safety concerns and worries about whether I would even have a home to return to. But as a public interest advocate who has worked on climate and energy issues every day for almost 2 decades, I also have intense concerns about the growing connections between the climate change – hurricane nexus.

So when EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt says it’s insensitive to Floridians and Texans to talk about climate change during hurricane emergencies, I say he missed the boat as to what’s truly insensitive.

What’s insensitive is not talking about the links between warmer surface water temperatures and more intense weather events. What’s insensitive is dismantling the Clean Power Plan that was put in place to reduce climate changing carbon pollution. What’s insensitive is unraveling the environmental protections we all rely on so allies in the oil and gas industry can continue to pollute for free and have consumers pick up the tab.

Plain and simple, we are altering the climate of our planet for all living beings just so that a few people can make money selling, trading, producing fuels and products that emit greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not okay and it’s got to stop.

Increased greenhouse gas emissions are fueling more extreme weather events. It’s just that simple. The warmer ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and the Gulf are contributing to more intense hurricanes. Climate change is causing sea level rise that adds to the threat of coastal flooding.

We have needed to act to reduce emissions for a long time but now we are at a true crossroads. The Arctic is melting and the permafrost is thawing. As goes the Arctic, so goes Florida. We must take serious action now to both adapt to the climate change impacts that are inevitable from carbon pollution already in the pipeline, and to reduce our emissions and future impacts by transforming to a low carbon economy.

Make no mistake, we’ve known about the problem for a long time. In 1965, three weeks after his Inauguration, President Lyndon Baines Johnson said: “This generation has altered the composition of the atmosphere on a global scale through radioactive materials and a steady increase in carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.” Johnson was responding to the first official governmental report on the possible challenges posed from increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) to dangerous levels.

Even before that, Physicist Roger Revelle testified before Congress in 1956 about the relationship between fossil fuel combustion, rising CO2 in the atmosphere, and potentially increased hurricane risk in the Atlantic. So, the potential impacts of climate change on hurricanes were known 60 years ago. This is not new news.

So why do so many people today still deny the causes of climate change despite the overwhelming evidence? Since I’m from the Sunshine State, I liken it to the intense rivalry between the University of Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles. You pick a team and stick with them through thick and thin. Football allegiances are powerful in Florida. There’s no in-between once you take sides.

Similarly, for climate deniers to embrace the largely accepted science they have to renounce their worldview and their peers. And while it is difficult to stray from one’s world view, more and more people now see reality staring them in the face.

So without pointing fingers or recrimination, I say that this is the moment we must all confront the realities of a changing climate and acknowledge there are solutions at hand. There is no shortage of data on climate science and, thankfully, there seems to be no shortage of technologies to achieve a low carbon economy. Transitioning to a clean energy economy will be better for all of us all in the long-run creating jobs, saving money and protecting our natural environment.

Being in a hurricane – or in any crisis situation – does have a certain surreal quality to it. Across the globe we’ve been pummeled with so many recent cataclysmic events – earthquakes in Mexico, fires in the West, mudslides in Sierra Leone – and now the nearby devastation from Hurricane Harvey is fresh on our minds. Every day it’s like we’re watching a movie – an intriguing thriller – except this one is real. Climate change is happening and we’re seeing it play out before our eyes. It would be insensitive to continue to ignore the signs and fail to take action.

Susan Glickman is the Florida Director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/now-is-exactly-the-time-to-have-that-discussion-about-climate-change/feed/1Thank You, Senator Alexander, For Key Climate Votehttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/thank-you-senator-alexander-for-key-climate-vote/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/thank-you-senator-alexander-for-key-climate-vote/#commentsFri, 15 Sep 2017 17:00:58 +0000Dr. Stephen A. Smithhttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76761Last week, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander stood for sound climate and foreign policy as he voted to uphold funding for international climate change dialogue. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 16-14 last week for a $10 million budget to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as part of the $51 billion package for the State Department and foreign programs.

This vote is in line with the opinion of the majority of Tennesseans, and the majority of Republican voters, who wish for U.S. participation in international efforts to curb global warming. Continued funding of international dialogue of climate change helps keep the United States at the table as virtually every other nation in the world moves forward on climate action.

]]>http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/thank-you-senator-alexander-for-key-climate-vote/feed/0Harvey, Irma, Jose and the shocks and hazards of placehttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/harvey-irma-jose-and-the-shocks-and-hazards-of-place/
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2017/09/15/harvey-irma-jose-and-the-shocks-and-hazards-of-place/#commentsFri, 15 Sep 2017 10:42:22 +0000Guest Bloghttp://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=76735This blog was originally posted here by Mary Babic at Oxfam America on September 8, 2017. Oxfam worked with the Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute (HVRI) to develop a series of Social Vulnerability maps for the southeastern states in the US. These maps measure and illustrate the convergence of social vulnerability factors (such as economic standing and age, among others) and four environmental hazards: flooding, hurricane force winds, sea-level rise, and drought.

U.S Border Patrol agent Mario Fuentes talks with a family after Hurricane Harvey near Rockport, Texas. Among the factors that make it hard for people to cope with disasters: fragile housing, rural locations, language barriers, poverty. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo by Glenn Fawcett)

Vulnerable populations feel the most harm from extreme weather events.

As hurricanes are flooding and battering coastal regions in the Gulf Coast and Atlantic, millions are scrambling to survive—and soon to recover and rebuild. For years, Oxfam has been studying how the “hazards of place” pose heightened dangers to the most vulnerable.

When a population is both socially vulnerable and especially exposed to climate hazards, the result is a wake of rubble and broken dreams. As climate change exacerbates the impact of environmental events, millions of people are stranded in harm’s way, and the most vulnerable are feeling disproportionate risk and damage.

Yes, climate hazards are natural events in weather cycles. We’ve always had hurricanes and droughts, flooding and high winds.

However, we’re currently witnessing a scale of destruction and devastation that is new and terrifying. The blows are more ferocious; and the vulnerable people in harm’s way are feeling the impact most acutely.

The last couple weeks alone have seen a series of devastating climate disasters in various parts of the world. The hurricanes close to home – Harvey, Irma, and possibly Jose – are part of a growing, global trend of more intense and destructive storm cycles. From Houston to Haiti to Mumbai, millions of homes are underwater or blown over, and millions of people are homeless and impoverished.

At Oxfam, we saw the vulnerable suffering the most in the face of Katrina: older people unable to leave their homes, suffering from health problems as medications lost refrigeration; ill and injured trapped in hospitals; working families waiting on their checks at the end of the month, lacking the cash to fill the tank and hit the road; immigrants who couldn’t find information about the incoming storm or shelters. And the recovery was even more inequitable, as tenants had no way to recover losses; homeowners without insurance lost their houses; workers scrambled to find employment, while labor protections were relaxed and conditions worsened.

As we face a future with enhanced risks, it’s critical to face the reality of who bears the burden of our changing climate, and to prepare and respond appropriately.

Why are the storms so fierce?

Simply put, changes in the global climate exacerbate climate hazards. Increases in the temperature of air and water (even incremental), lead to rising sea levels, more extreme storm surges and flooding, heavier precipitation, and higher wind speeds. Warmer air can hold more moisture, and warmer seas cause water to evaporate faster, which means more rainfall during storms.

At the same time, changes in patterns of human settlements – for example, paving over wetlands around Houston – reduces natural resources to absorb impacts of storms.

The evidence is overwhelming, and the events are diverse: water, wind, drought, temperature extremes. Currently, we see an average of 400 “extreme weather events” every year.

And so the toll of these changes begins to rise, in some cases dramatically.

A horrific mudslide killed as many as 1,000 people in Freetown, Sierra Leone in July (triggered by torrential rain).

What does it mean to be socially vulnerable to climate hazards?

The challenges of social vulnerability can quickly turn life threatening in the immediate face of a climate disaster. People may lack enough money to find transportation (private or public), or they may have mobility problems, or their housing may be fragile, or the loss of power may leave them without vital refrigeration or methods of communication. Many are one big storm away from homelessness, unemployment, hunger, injury, and/or loss of life.

When a climate disaster strikes, it hammers a community: water floods in; high winds topple power lines, trees, and structures; drought dries up crops. While social variables such as income and age do not determine who will be hit by a natural disaster, they do determine a population’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover when disaster strikes.

Oxfam worked with the Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute (HVRI) to develop a series of Social Vulnerability maps for the southeastern states in the US. These maps measure and illustrate the convergence of social vulnerability factors (such as economic standing and age, among others) and four environmental hazards: flooding, hurricane force winds, sea-level rise, and drought.

Below is a brief outline of the maps and findings.

Social vulnerability factors

Economic standing is the number one factor in determining a community’s vulnerability to disaster. Poverty may prevent families from acquiring goods and services necessary to prepare for a disaster (generators and gasoline, canned food, alternative lighting, sufficient medication); and they may lack transportation to evacuate. Recovery is an even bigger challenge, as they are likely under- or uninsured.

Age extremes (elderly or young) mean people are less mobile, more dependent on care, and less able to get out of harm’s way.

Rural and urban communities each face special challenges when disaster strikes, and these communities have a harder time recovering. Both sparse and dense levels of population pose challenges.

Special needs populations are less able to cope with physical and social challenges.

Certain occupations are associated with social vulnerability. People engaged in low-paying jobs with few or no benefits are likely to find recovery difficult (as will the unemployed).

Quality of housing can determine how well a household is protected from harm. Housing and building types particularly vulnerable to disasters vary from mobile homes in rural tornado-prone environments to substandard or multifamily housing in densely populated urban areas.

Racial and ethnic disparities can contribute to social vulnerability through lack of access to resources, cultural differences, and the social, economic, and political marginalization that is often associated with racial disparities.

The Climate hazards:

HVRI mapped four essential climate hazards.

Flooding: More intense rainfall can lead to severe floods that cause significant deadly impacts regionally.

Hurricane force winds: The destructive potential of Atlantic hurricanes has increased since 1970, correlated with an increase in sea surface temperature.

Sea-level rise: An increase in average sea level of up to two feet or more and the likelihood of increased hurricane intensity and associated storm surge are likely to be among the most costly consequences of climate change (especially for the Gulf Coast).

Drought: Decreased water availability owing to increased temperature, longer periods of time between rainfall events, and increase in water demand are all very likely to affect many sectors of the US economy.

As the water recedes and the winds die down, the path of destruction is revealed – and the recovery work begins. For many, it’s a long, slow road back to secure homes, regular work, and safety.

As the emergency funds and efforts flow into these areas, it’s incumbent on us to make sure the programs reach those who need it most.

Read the full reports here:

Coping with Disaster focuses on Louisiana and Mississippi, and explores the impacts of the four climate hazards on the most vulnerable populations.

Exposed explores all 13 states in the US Southeast, and illustrates how climate hazards affect vulnerable populations.

All of the things we mentioned in our blog after the opening session did come up again throughout Solar Power International (#SPIcon). Maybe we should have been placing bets. We were in Las Vegas, after all.

We were definitely correct with one of our predictions. The Suniva trade case did emerge as a dominant theme. That was true both in the sessions and in the hallway discussions. One of the General Sessions was about “The ‘Other’ ITC” – to distinguish the Investment Tax Credit from the International Trade Commission. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) predicts that 88,000 solar jobs are at risk if Suniva’s petition is granted. In the Southeast, North Carolina and Florida stand to lose 4700 and 3700 jobs, respectively — and South Carolina could lose 7000 (more than 90%) of their solar jobs. SEIA also indicated that about 47 GW of solar capacity is at risk over the next 4 years. Again, downscaling that to the Southeast, we think it could affect as much as 4 GW of our projected growth or to put that in monetary terms, at least $4 billion of investment at risk.

While that ITC cast a shadow over the entire SPI, we did also want to point out some of the other content that was highlighted.

A major talking point at SPI this year was just how low cost solar energy resources have become. Large, utility-scale solar power installations are now reaching sub-$40 per megawatt hour, or 4 cents per kilowatt hour. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) just published a report highlighting the plummeting costs of solar power. In fact, NREL found solar power prices have dropped by 30%, just in the last year. Solar power resources have effectively met the Department of Energy’s SunShot goals of achieving $1/watt costs, nearly three years early.

One of the sessions we attended was “Using solar to provide essential grid reliability.” A key point from that discussion was that solar has much better control/regulation accuracy than other technologies. Steam turbines are only about 40% accurate; gas turbines around 60%. Solar, on the other hand has about 85% regulation accuracy – i.e., it’s output can be controlled. This was raised in the context of the so-called “duck curve” behavior exhibited in places like California. It is entirely possible to gradually ramp down solar output prior to the afternoon drop in order to allow some of the slow start technologies to ramp up more gradually. Of course, this does imply sacrificing a bit of the potential solar generation but it may be an enabler of even greater solar capacity on the system. And, incidentally, the Southeast doesn’t exhibit the pronounced duck curve like California anyway.

Other sessions we attended ranged from “Low Income Solar” to “The Next Frontier: Rates, NEM 2.0 and Value of Solar” The former profiled a rural co-op in Colorado where members voted for a voluntary 2% contribution to fund community solar. The latter included representatives from Nevada and Arizona public service commissions along with SunRun and discussed how utilities are attempting to change net metering programs to institute higher fixed charges, standby charges, demand charges, etc. Panelists affirmed that the biggest issue is grandfathering (to ensure the economic rationale customers’ used to make their investment decision in the first place remains valid throughout the lifetime of the assets). Another important point was that oftentimes a customer’s export to the grid is actually only going to serve load in their own neighborhood so they really aren’t “utilizing” the entire grid infrastructure. This can be used to further discredit some of the opposition to net metering.

Of course, SPI is not just about the sessions. We also hosted meetings with many of our industry partners and spent a lot of time in the 240,000 SF exhibit hall.

Pairing Solar and Wind Power in the Southeast, Solar Power International, 2017

Here at Solar Power International, a number of attendees have openly wondered: how can wind power and solar power work better, together? Perhaps unsurprisingly, the two resources pair together quite nicely, naturally.

With nearly 3.5 gigawatts of wind power purchase agreements, and over 5 GW of installed solar power, the South has begun to embrace renewable energy. Pairing utility scale wind and solar power in the South could improve renewable energy market share as well as relieve potential integration issues. For example, as higher levels of solar power penetration occur, several utilities have noted a trend moving towards higher winter peak generation demand.

Several utilities throughout the region are already winter-peaking. Diurnal patterns indicate wind power resources tend to be strongest at nighttime, tapering off mid-day. Alternatively, solar power resources are strongest mid-day, with no output at nighttime. As such, wind power and solar power resources are naturally complementary diurnally (each day).

Seasonal patterns indicate wind power resources tend to be strongest at wintertime, tapering off during summertime. Alternatively, solar power resources are strongest during summertime, with less output during wintertime. As such, wind power and solar power resources are naturally seasonally complementary.

With good complementarity between diurnal and seasonal patterns, wind power and solar power resources are likely to work well, together. Granted, this is oversimplifying some of the more complex issues specific utilities may have to handle during particularly unusual times (after all, we had an eclipse a few weeks ago, and back-to-back Category 4+ hurricanes). But on balance, renewable energy resources are much, much more resilient than some people may anticipate.

Be sure to stay tuned for our “wrap-up” blog, highlighting some of the major issues discussed at Solar Power International 2017!

But before Duke Energy can proceed, the North Carolina Utilities Commission must approve these changes, and that’s where you come in. The Commission is holding public hearings where you have an opportunity to make your comment in person.

September 12 in Rockingham September 25 in Raleigh September 27 in Asheville October 11 in Snow Hill October 12 in Wilmington

You may also comment at the formal evidentiary hearing, where Duke Energy and expert witnesses will present testimony, which begins at 1pm November 20 in Raleigh.

Rate hikes can be adjusted based on input from customers, advocates, and other stakeholders. For background info and what to expect at the hearings, click here. For questions, email SACE’s Campaigns Director Amelia Shenstone at amelia@cleanenergy.org.

Engage in the democratic process with Duke Energy by attending a hearing this month!